As I turn 44 , I reflect on the Eventful last few years of my entrepreneurial journey
26 ventures -19 failures and 7 successes.
People look at the 7 successes and forget about the 19 …those 19 vital failures taught me and helped me shape the 7 successful ventures.
As someone said success has many fathers and failures has none. On social media we put up the professional wins, but what’s not apparent is the blood , sweat and tears that went into it, the personal and professional struggles hidden behind the scenes while still trying to keep moving forwards.
People like the bling but do not see the hours and hours of relentless hard work , sleepless nights, loneliness and despair one has to grow through especially when you lack talent like me I have to work extra super hard to compensate That is the deal I have with the Universe…the more harder I work the more luckier I get. I own my failures learnings that helped me grow and make the 7 successful ventures touching and directly contributing to people’s employment in tough times. My mother ‘s blessings and father’s sacrifice and hard work gave me a start. It is the same person who landed in Melbourne in Feb 11th 2003 with $3K AUD and $10 US dollars
( I still have the $10US my dear father gave me and have kept it as a treasured one) to do masters in IT. I did all sorts of odd jobs like many of us especially the overseas students /migrants do. I am not stating this to gain any sympathy but the fact is most international students and migrants have their share of struggles and need to have incredible resilience to overcome. From sleeping from house to house even in someone’s kitchen as there were times where $800 a month ( law restrictions on 20 hour weeks as students) earning as a student was just not enough money left to pay the rent along with living expenses. My group of friends have been through the same , some even more tough than me.
Today , I have built up a $X million portfolio, a lifestyle to provide for family etc etc etc
But I never forget those days as those days built my character. It’s easy to get arrogant when you achieve a certain degree of success.
Today I hit a $X million as my own personal taxable income from 3 business I created and run successfully.
First thought is to throw a party and celebrate with extended friends and family but then realization sets in , that such actions will be a display ego, arrogance and ugly display of wealth.
The same funds can be used to help the less privileged . There is a lot of pain out there and people suffering.
So whilst anyone who I invite can afford to have a meal , many out there who cannot afford a meal, shelter and even clothing.
So decision made is to ensure the same funds to be utilized for the less fortunate as best as possible.
People ask me how is the feeling when you make $1 million Plus taxable income as an individual ?
My answer is I feel *more accountable* to do more for the less fortunate people as lots struggling with basic issues like food, shelter, clothing , education for orphan kids , widows with kids , people with severe health issues etc etc who need that support. The under privileged are all over the world not just limited to 3rd world countries. I also feel the need to “do more “ mantra for migrants or even those seeking a career guidance as there was no one to guide me. For me realization sets in , that is assisting others as best as you can despite your own difficulties is Humanity & Empathy!. Now to all entrepreneurs out there , it’s not all fun , bling with flash cars or self esteem and fashion statement about being an entrepreneur , it’s about making a positive difference in people’s life with the best Customer experience. That for me is the key purpose of being an entrepreneur. My recent successes are not just because of the monetary benefits which is a by-product but more the lives I have been fortunate to be able to add some value in a small way, lives we have touched through direct and indirect employment. One can change and impact lives in a positive way with various means, I do it with GERENT ANZ -a Salesforce company, KASS Consulting a SAP Data Company , Property Magnate - a Property consultancy specialising in wealth creation and Laxmi Portfolio PS Holdings businesses. All 4 ventures are an extension who I am.
Knowing my purpose has been immensely valuable and turning point in my life.
*Gerent* - A Salesforce start up we hit $2.7 million revenue with 30% profit from little seed funding of $300K completed 19 months(1.7 years) this June 30th 2023 and we are track to hit combined revenues $3.7 million to $4 million by end of Dec 2023 completing 2 years.
21 people on our payroll across Aus,Malaysia and India.
*KASS consulting* - A Data migration start up hit $1 million revenue with 69% profit.
14 people on our payroll livelihood - all overseas working.
*Property Magnate* - we embark on our 5th year as of June 30th 2023.
We have completed transactions of *High Value worth millions of dollars * for buyers as well in addition to have brought properties worth X million for the middle class investors and home owners.
We hit average profital revenues of over the last 4 FY’s including the one ending June 30th 2023. Statistics say most small businesses shut down a massive 50% to 75% within the first year- 3 years. For Property Magnate to enter its 5th year is a blessing and I have massive gratitude towards all who had faith, something I just cannot express in words.
- Added Positive Value to 300+ people’s lives across clients and their families, Plus business partners including mortgage brokers , conveyancers, Solicitors and their teams, property management companies staff, town planners, council staff , building inspectors, developers with their teams, builders with the teams etc.
All 3 start up ‘s in the middle of COVID and High Inflation environment. The overall purpose is paying it forward. In the memory of
*Pramila* my mother and *Nani* (My mother in law who I never met ) - In both their names we are trying to pay it forward to the less privileged as best as we can and I am confident this will go from strength to strength. On a personal level, my mother , father, sister Poornima , all 3 kids are my great assets and pride and critics. In many instances throughout the last few years particularly since June 2019 till date since I kick started all these ventures, there has been moments of happiness, in some cases extreme sadness, regret, loneliness all happening in parallel. I also say initially there is no work life balance, you have to work toward creating it. Hence choose every step from career, business, people to life partner wisely Don’t be emotional when making such a key decision but be pragmatic. I cannot be generic here as differs case to case, however if you think you are going to accomplish something bigger than you at a wider scale then a supportive partner really makes the journey more joyful. That individual who you make as life partner, their character, their family’s character, ask yourself if they have always mocked you in bad times , never stood by you, will they ever stand by you in bad times again. No doubt they will always be there in good times…
Still if you want them to be in your life and procreate with them …one pay’s a extreme price at a personal , mental and emotional level.
But then again you console yourself and think you come alone and you go alone on this earth.
Personal and Professional life can be linked and one can achieve great success if they both are happy events. I have seen others who are not as fortunate as me from single females or males who fight against the odds and emerge victorious.
In those instances, the fight for glory is higher and professionally the fight is even tougher.
For me I use each criticism, each pain, each setback, each harsh word, each remark … as a fuel to propel myself forward. Tomorrow I might fail again but it’s not how hard you fail but how quickly you rise. "Happiness comes and goes. But when life is really good or when things are really bad, having meaning gives you something to hold on to." Define your meaning…..our end can be anytime. To all aspiring people out there, if I can do it with all my limitations then you surely can… So for anyone needing any inspiration please subscribe to Warrior Mindset on Spotify. Warrior Mindset is my new venture launched today to add some value to people To Create, Empower and Reclaim to embrace their inner Warrior spirit and become better Leaders by taking care of them first, the people they love and the teams they lead or wish to lead. There will be 12 Podcast released , one every month touching various aspects of the Warrior Success Spirit. Link is https://open.spotify.com/show/6KvSO973GeC4Cggzl7rteU For every monthly subscription done, a major percentage will go towards the under privileged to fund the basics Food, Clothing and Shelter. Keep rising and shining…
Pradeep Laxminarayana